Unless they are used as follow-up to treatments for life-threatening conditions, such as breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, cosmetic procedures are not considered essential to overall health. As a result, most cosmetic procedures are not covered by health insurance.
However, there are studies on physical attractiveness and subjective well-being that would indicate that cosmetic procedures can have a positive psychological effect, when can also positively affect your overall health and well-being. In a study of plastic surgery patients, conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of the West of England, patients were significantly less depressed after surgery.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the rates of cosmetic procedures are increasing each year. The good news is that you don’t have to go under the knife to receive the positive psychological effects; there are several non-surgical procedures that can improve your appearance and your state of mind.
Laser Hair Removal
Excess body hair might not seem like a serious condition, but for some women the excess hair could deal serious blows to their self-esteem, especially as it pertains to their femininity. For example, women who have a condition known as hirsutism might grow enough excess facial hair to make a full beard. Women going through menopause might also start growing large amounts of thick, coarse facial hair. Women who have issues with their facial hair can get laser hair removal to boost their self-esteem.
Laser hair removal is a blanket term for a variety of procedures, all of which use some form of laser light to deactivate the hair follicles and remove unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is considered permanent because once the follicle is treated, the hair root bulb does not return and the hair does not grow back.
The process is usually done at a laser hair removal clinic, or at a dermatologist’s office. You can find a laser hair removal clinic in almost every city in the US, as well as abroad.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Our skin, especially facial skin, is one of the first things people see when they encounter us. Some people have visible blemishes, birthmarks and scars that cause people to react negatively to them, which can then affect their self-esteem. People who are bothered by other people’s reactions to something on their skin can get laser skin resurfacing.
Like laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing is actually a variety of procedures that use laser light to remove imperfections in the skin.
· The laser light breaks up melanin to remove areas that are over-pigmented, such as birthmarks, liver spots, and moles;
· It stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of acne scars and wrinkles; and,
· It approves your complexion and the texture of your skin.
The process is usually done at a clinic that specializes in laser skin resurfacing, or at a dermatologist’s office. You can find laser skin resurfacing clinics in almost any city in the U.S., and abroad.
Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels
Microdemabrasion and chemical peels address that same issues as laser skin resurfacing, the difference is in the way each procedure is done.
· Microdermabrasion uses a wand with an abrasive tip to remove the cells from the top layer of skin. It is primarily used to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and small scars.
· Chemical peels use a mild acid, such as Salicylic acid, to remove the cells from the top layer of skin. It is primarily used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, small scars, and hyperpigmentation.
Some dermatologists might combine microdermabrasion and chemical peels to get the best effects. For example, a dermatologist might recommend microdermabrasion as the initial treatment, followed by a series of chemical peels a few weeks later.
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are usually done at a dermatologist’s office, or at a special spa or clinic. You can find chemical peel and microdermabrasion clinics and spas in almost any U.S. city, and abroad.
Other Considerations
There is also a procedure called dermabrasion, which is a surgical procedure that removes deeper layers of skin. Dermabrasion is often used for deeper scars, and blemishes that can’t be addressed with lasers, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. A doctor might also use dermabrasion to remove pre-cancerous growths in the skin. Dermabrasion is not generally used for pigmentation issues.
Because the procedure is more intense, and requires a local anesthetic and a sedative, it has to be performed by a cosmetic surgeon in a medical setting. However, the procedure is usually fairly quick and can be done on an outpatient basis.
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